SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories from the Lotus Sutra

Dogen-Zenji so cherished the Lotus Sutra that he actually carved a selection of it into his door. This, the core text of not only Zen but the whole of Mahayana Buddhism, has never lost its appeal among practitioners of the Way. Join us for our SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories From the Lotus Sutra led by Sensei Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Genzan Quennell

EDITOR'S NOTE

What does it mean to embody the dharma with wholeheartedness and humility?

Maia Duerr raised this to honor Sensei Shinzan Yoko Palma upon his Dharma Transmission ceremony and the way he has embodied the dharma in serviing others as a resident at Upaya for the past eight years.

(Sensei Shinzan is pictured here in a full bow during the ceremony that honored the completion of his training and recognized him as a fully ordained priest and teacher.) We are so proud of Sensei Shinzan and the newly ordained priests Noah Kigaku Rossetter and Troy Keido Fernandez.

In her beautiful and characteristic style, Natalie Goldberg writes about celebrating the New Year at Upaya. And in a poignant short film, Miracles of Each Moment, Sensei Kaz talk about his one-stroke style of calligraphy, creating ensos or Zen Circles.

Please note our public meditation schedule will change this Thursday: the first session will begin at 7:00 a.m., as it did in the past.

ROSHI JOAN: News, Teachings, Travels

Roshiis currently in Hawaii teaching and meeting with Ram Dass, Frank Ostaseski, the Omidyars, and Mayumi Oda. She returns on Feb. 1.

Please consider joining Roshi for one of this year's programs; early registration is advised.

We are accepting applications for Upaya's resident program. Please consider joining Roshi, Visiting Teachers, and Upaya for three months or more of dedicated practice and learning. By application, click here.

FEATURE ARTICLES

Another New Year: Natalie Goldberg

In a recent piece in Lion's Roar, Natalie Goldberg beautifully captures welcoming the New Year at Upaya.

...The night before, at ten o'clock, I snapped my Yaktrax to the bottom of my snow boots and trudged under a full complement of stars in a black sky to Upaya Zen Center across the road. There seventy of us sat for two hours, then listened at midnight to 108 bells ring out the night, a short talk by the roshi (Joan Halifax, my dear friend) and had tea and cookies in the kitchen.

Miracles of Each Moment: Sensei Kaz Tanahashi

In this short video, Kaz shares about the process of drawing a circle, in the one-stroke calligraphic form for which he has become known.

"The process [is one of] of not really making, but sort of discovering the circle. And I think it has much to do with our life. It's impossible to make a perfect circle. We simply give up the idea of trying to be perfect. We surrender to the idea of creating something imperfect all the time."

Santa Fe Sangha Events

Sunday February 22, 6:30 p.m., Local Sangha Dharma Discussion Group, Upaya House We will be discussing the first of the Four Noble Truths, comprehending suffering. This discussion will be led by Maia Duerr. To prepare for this series, we invite you to listen to Stephen Batchelor's podcast, A Culture of Awakening: Part 5A. Please also read chapters 1-4, in The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Subsequent sangha meetings will discuss The Four individually and be moderated by sangha members. If you feel drawn to moderate one evening, it would be deeply appreciated.

We will Meet at Upaya House at 6:30 p.m. for tea, cookies, and socializing. Discussion begins at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. You are invited to join the residents for zazen at 5:30 p.m. Newcomers welcome! Contact Jane Steinberg for more information.

Sangha Care Committee, Sunday, February 8, 2 p.m., at Japji Keating's home This will be the second meeting of a group forming as a network of care for our local Sangha members. If you are interested in joining, please contact Lorraine Schechter for more information.

Winter Collection for Care Agency: St. Elizabeth's Shelter - serving the homeless would like us to consider donating practical gifts for the people who they care for. Suggested items are: winter weight socks, gloves, hats, scarves, long underwear, blankets. Please bring your donated items to Upaya's front officeor to the Sangha meeting on February 22.